Southern highbush blueberry plant named ‘TH-917’

ABSTRACT

The new variety ‘TH-917’ is provided. The new and distinct variety ripens around mid May in southern Georgia and late May in middle Georgia. The fruit of the new variety ‘TH-917’ are large, firm, have good flavor and scar. The new variety ‘TH-917’ is vigorous with an estimated chilling requirement of about 500 to 550 hours at or below approximately 7° C. The asexually reproduced variety is reliably propagated vegetatively.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made, in part, with U.S. Government support on behalfof U.S. Department of Agriculture, Hatch Act Grant No. GEO 01663. TheU.S. Government has certain rights in this invention.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘TH-917’ is asouthern highbush blueberry plant that is a Vaccinium corymbosum.

Variety denomination: The new southern highbush blueberry plant claimedis of the variety denominated ‘TH-917’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinctcultivar of southern highbush blueberry plant botanically known as aVaccinium corymbosum and herein referred to as ‘TH-917’, as hereindescribed and illustrated.

The new blueberry plant variety ‘TH-917’ was selected in Griffin, Ga.,in 2005. The new variety ‘TH-917’ ripens around mid-May in southernGeorgia to late May in middle Georgia. The fruit of the new variety‘TH-917’ are firm with good flavor and favorable scar. The new variety‘TH-917’ has good yield and is vigorous with an estimated chillingrequirement of about 500-550 hours at or below 7° C.

Pedigree and history: ‘TH-917’ was selected in 2005 at the GeorgiaExperiment Station in Griffin, Ga., originating from a cross of‘TH-653’×‘Millennia’ made by Dr. D. Scott NeSmith in 2002. The maternalparent (‘TH-653’) is a non-patented UGA breeding line derived from across of ‘Legacy’×‘TH-454’. Both ‘Legacy’ and ‘TH-454’ are not patented.The paternal parent, ‘Millennia’, is the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No.12,816. The selection ‘TH-917’ has been tested in asexually propagated(by vegetative cuttings) plantings at UGA Blueberry Research Farms inAlapaha and Griffin, Ga. since 2007.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry plant variety ‘TH-917’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in asexuallypropagated plants of the new cultivar growing in Alapaha and Griffin,Ga., and are determined to be unique firmly fixed characteristics of thenew blueberry plant variety ‘TH-917’:

-   -   1. Favorable scar;    -   2. Very good storage quality;    -   3. Excellent berry flavor;    -   4. Good fruit firmness.

The new variety ‘TH-917’ can be compared to the southern highbushblueberry variety ‘Camellia’ (the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No.18,151).

Comparison: The selection ‘TH-917’ flowers and ripens with ‘Camellia’ inthe mid-to-late Georgia southern highbush season. ‘TH-917’ has large,firm berries with good flavor as compared to standards ‘Star’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 10,675) and ‘Camellia’ in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga. over a5-year period (Tables 1 and 2). Table 3 describes yield, and berryweight, firmness and Brix for ‘TH-917’ as compared to the ‘Star’ and‘Camellia’ southern highbush blueberry cultivars, for the years2010-2013. ‘TH-917’ had better berry firmness than ‘Camellia’ and alower firmness than ‘Star’. ‘TH-917’ is highly vigorous like ‘Camellia’but does not have the same issues of “leggyness”. Major attractions of‘TH-917’ are high fruit quality and the ability to compliment ‘Camellia’in filling the mid to late May production gap in southern Georgia.Preliminary studies suggest that ‘TH-917’ has excellent fruit holdingand/or storage quality, and may also be suitable for machine harvesting.

TABLE 1 5-year average ratings of some fruit and plant characteristicsof ‘TH-917’ and southern highbush standard cultivars ‘Star’ and‘Camellia’ from 2009-2013 in field test plots at Alapaha, GA. Ratingscales are based on a 1 to 10 score, with 1 being the least desirableand 10 being the most desirable. A value of 6-7 is generally consideredto be the minimum acceptable rating for a commercial cultivar. Theseplants were established in Fall 2007. Alapaha location Berry and plantattributes^(1/) ‘Star’ ‘Camellia’ ‘TH-917’ Berry size 7.6 ± 0.2 8.9 ±0.2 7.9 ± 0.3 Berry scar 7.0 ± 0.1 7.2 ± 0.2 7.5 ± 0.2 Berry color 7.1 ±0.1 8.7 ± 0.2 7.6 ± 0.2 Berry firmness 7.2 ± 0.1 7.2 ± 0.1 7.8 ± 0.1Berry flavor 7.0 ± 0.1 7.8 ± 0.1 7.5 ± 0.2 Cropping 4.7 ± 1.7 5.4 ± 0.35.9 ± 0.5 Plant vigor 6.3 ± 0.2 9.8 ± 0.2 8.5 ± 0.4 Date of 50%flowering March 3 March 11 March 10 Date of 50% ripening May 8 May 15May 17 Fruit development period (days) 66.3 ± 6.1  65.3 ± 4.9  67.0 ±3.8  ^(1/)Values are means ± the standard error with n = 5.

TABLE 2 5-year average ratings of some fruit and plant characteristicsof ‘TH-917’ and southern highbush standard cultivars ‘Star’ and‘Camellia’ (2009-2013) in field test plots at Griffin, GA. Rating scalesare based on a 1 to 10 score, with 1 being the least desirable and 10being the most desirable. A value of 6-7 is generally considered to bethe minimum acceptable rating for a commercial cultivar. These plantswere established in Fall 2007. Berry and plant Griffin locationattributes^(1/) ‘Star’ ‘Camellia’ ‘TH-917’ Berry size 7.4 ± 0.2 8.6 ±0.2 7.5 ± 0.2 Berry scar 6.9 ± 0.1 7.0 ± 0.1 7.1 ± 0.1 Berry color 7.1 ±0.1 7.9 ± 0.2 7.6 ± 0.2 Berry firmness 7.2 ± 0.1 7.2 ± 0.1 7.5 ± 0.3Berry flavor 7.1 ± 0.1 7.4 ± 0.2 7.5 ± 0.3 Cropping 6.8 ± 1.1 7.9 ± 0.26.4 ± 0.4 Plant vigor 8.5 ± 0.3 9.8 ± 0.1 8.4 ± 0.3 Date of 50%flowering March 13 March 25 March 25 Date of 50% ripening May 25 May 31May 30 Fruit development period (days) 73.3 ± 10.4  67.3 ± 4.8   65 ±1.9 ^(1/)Values are means ± the standard error with n = 5.

TABLE 3 Yield and berry weight, firmness, and Brix for ‘Star’ and‘Camellia’ cultivars and ‘TH-917’ grown in Griffin, GA during 2010-2013.Year ‘Star’ ‘Camellia’ ‘TH-917’ Yield (lbs/bush)^(1/) 2011 12.7 ± 3.6 9.7 ± 0.9 10.0 ± 0.7 2012 11.7 ± 2.3 10.5 ± 0.8 17.0 ± 1.0 2013  3.9 ±0.6 15.9 ± 1.0 15.5 ± 0.8 Avg  9.4 12.0 14.2 Berry wt. (g/berry)^(2/)2010  1.53 ± 0.09  2.94 ± 0.12  1.90 ± 0.10 2011  1.20 ± 0.04  1.97 ±0.11  1.80 ± 0.08 2012  1.80 ± 0.07  1.60 ± 0.09  1.55 ± 0.05 2013  1.79± 0.06  2.56 ± 0.10  1.76 ± 0.03 Avg  1.58  2.28  1.75 Firmness(g/mm)^(2/) 2010 196 ± 4  150 ± 2  165 ± 4  2011 206 ± 6  166 ± 3  173 ±3  2012 190 ± 5  164 ± 4  168 ± 2  2013 191 ± 5  150 ± 2  166 ± 2  Avg196   157   168   Brix (%)^(3/) 2012 13.9 ± 0.6 14.5 ± 0.4 12.0 ± 0.32013 13.5 ± 0.5 13.3 ± 0.3 13.3 ± 0.7 Avg 13.7 13.9 12.7 ^(1/)Values aremeans ± the standard error with n = 3. ^(2/)Values are means ± thestandard error with n = 3 (each sample derived from 25 berry avg).^(3/)Values are means ± the standard error with n = 3 (each samplederived from 5 berry composite).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens infull color of the foliage, flowering, and fruit of the new variety‘TH-917’. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in acolor representation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘TH-917’ during flowering inGriffin, Ga.

FIG. 2 is a close up photograph of the new variety ‘TH-917’ duringflowering in Griffin, Ga.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of new variety ‘TH-917’ during fruit ripening inGriffin, Ga.

FIG. 4 is a close up photograph of the new variety ‘TH-917’ fruitclusters.

FIG. 5 is a close up photograph of typical fruit of the new variety.

‘TH-917’ BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition published byThe Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomologicalcharacteristics of the new variety ‘TH-917’. Where dimensions, sizes,colors, and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood thatsuch characteristics are approximations and averages set forth asaccurately as practicable. The descriptions reported herein are largelyfrom specimen plants grown in Alapaha and Griffin, Ga., withsupplemental irrigation. Plants were about 3 to about 6 years old.

PLANT

-   Size: 1.4 to 1.8 m tall by about 4 years of age. Plants grown under    highly productive soil and fertility conditions have exceeded 2.0 m    tall in 4 years. The plant crown, or base, is narrow, typically 20    to 25 cm in diameter. Upper portion of plant canopy exceeds 1.3 m in    diameter by 3 to 4 years.-   Growth habit: Strongly upright, with 1 to 3 main canes arising from    the crown, and multiple branching of shoots (2 to 3 per cane) from    those canes at 10 cm or less above the soil surface.-   Growth: Highly vigorous.-   Productivity: Very good crop and yield, averaging 10 to 18 lbs of    fruit per plant each year for plants 4 years and older grown under    well fertilized and irrigated field conditions.-   Hardiness: Similar to other southern highbush cultivars such as    ‘Star’ and ‘Camellia’.-   Chilling requirement: 500-550 hours of temperatures at or below    7° C. (about 45° F.) to induce normal leafing and flowering during    the spring under conventional production systems. The chill    requirement is more than the male parent ‘Millennia’ (350 hours of    chilling required) but more similar to the female parent ‘TH-653’    (non-patented breeding selection; estimated 500-600 hours of    chilling required).-   Leafing: Plants tend to break sufficient leaf buds simultaneously    with, or shortly after, anthesis.-   Canes:    -   -   Diameter.—30 to 50 mm for base of main canes that are about            4 years old and older. 10 to 15 mm in about 2 year old wood.            5 to 10 mm in current season wood.        -   Color.—Brown RHS N200D for base of canes that are about 4            years old and older. Yellow-Green RHS 145A to Greyed-Orange            RHS 165A in about 2 year old wood. Yellow-Green RHS 145B to            145C in current season wood.-   Fruiting wood: Moderate number of twigs 10 to 20 cm in length, with    internode lengths of 20-25 mm common.-   Disease resistance: No exceptional disease resistance or    susceptibility observed; typical for southern highbush ‘Star’ and    ‘Camellia’ cultivars.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf color: Healthy mature leaves.    -   -   Top side.—Green RHS 137C.        -   Under side.—Green RHS 138C.-   Leaf arrangement: Alternate, simple.-   Leaf shape: Elliptic.-   Leaf surface: Glaucous.-   Leaf margins: Nearly entire, smooth.-   Leaf venation: Pinnate with slight netting.-   Leaf apices: Broadly acute.-   Leaf bases: Acute.-   Leaf dimensions:    -   -   Length.—55.0 to 65.0 mm.        -   Width.—30.0 to 35.0 mm.-   Petioles: Small.    -   -   Length.—3.0 to 4.0 mm.        -   Width.—1.5 to 2.0 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green RHS 145B.

FLOWERS

-   Date of 50% anthesis: March 10 in southern Georgia and March 25 in    middle Georgia (5 year average).-   Flower shape: Urceolate.-   Flower bud number: High to very high, averaging 5 to 7 buds per    fruiting shoot.-   Flowers per cluster: 7 to 10 common.-   Flower fragrance: None.-   Corolla:    -   -   Color.—White RHS 155C (open flower).        -   Length.—9.0 to 10.0 mm.        -   Width.—7.0 to 8.0 mm.        -   Aperture width.—3.0 to 3.5 mm.-   Flower peduncle:    -   -   Length.—10.0 to 15.0 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green RHS 145C, with a trace of Red-Purple RHS            59C often observed.-   Flower pedicle:    -   -   Length.—4.5 to 6.0 mm.        -   Color.—Green RHS 139D.-   Calyx (with sepals):    -   -   Diameter.—6.0 to 7.0 mm.        -   Color.—Green RHS 138B to Green RHS 139D.-   Stamen:    -   -   Length.—6.0 to 7.0 mm.        -   Number per flower.—10.        -   Filament color.—Yellow-Green RHS 145D.-   Style:    -   -   Length.—8.0 to 9.0 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green RHS 145C.-   Pistil:    -   -   Length.—10.0 to 12.0 mm.        -   Ovary color (exterior).—Green RHS 138C.-   Anther:    -   -   Length.—4.0 to 4.5 mm.        -   Number.—10.        -   Color.—Greyed-Orange RHS 165B.-   Pollen:    -   -   Abundance.—High.        -   Color.—Orange-White RHS 159A.-   Self-compatibility: The cultivar has a moderate degree of    self-compatibility.

FRUIT

-   Date of 50% maturity: May 17 in southern Georgia and May 30 in    middle Georgia (5 year average).-   Fruit development period: 62 to 70 days.-   Berry color:    -   -   With wax.—Violet-Blue RHS 97B.        -   With wax removed.—Black RHS 202A.-   Berry surface wax abundance: High.-   Berry flesh color: Green-White RHS 157B.-   Berry weight:    -   -   First harvest.—1.8 g to 2.4 g.        -   Second harvest.—1.6 g to 1.9 g.-   Berry size:    -   -   Height from calyx to scar.—10.0 to 13.0 mm.        -   Diameter.—15.0 to 18.0 mm.-   Berry shape: Semi-spherical.-   Fruit stem scar: Small to medium, medium-dry, with little or no    tearing at harvest.-   Calyx: Depth 2.0 to 3.0 mm; width 5.0 to 7.0 mm; sepals slightly    showing and most often turn slightly inward when present.-   Berry firmness: Moderately firm.-   Berry flavor and texture: Sweet, mildly acidic flavor; smooth    texture, somewhat crisp.-   Storage quality: Good to very good.-   Suitability for mechanical harvesting: Likely suitable.-   Uses: Can be used as fresh fruit for shipping, but also    customer-pick and processing markets.

SEED

-   Seed abundance in fruit: Medium, with 10 to 20 fully developed seeds    per berry.-   Seed color: Greyed-Orange RHS 165B.-   Seed dry weight: 42.8 mg per 100 seeds.-   Seed size: 1.0 to 1.2 mm long; 0.4 to 0.6 mm wide for fully    developed seeds.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of southern highbushblueberry plant named ‘TH-917’, substantially as illustrated anddescribed herein.